Lake death of wife, 73

A WOMAN who died after drowning in a lake at Harrold Odel Country Park had a history of depression.

Julie McGregor, a retired practice nurse, who lived in High Street, Harrold, took her own life after a depressive illness which she had suffered from 20 years ago returned earlier this year.

An inquest on Tuesday heard how on July 31 this year the body of Mrs McGregor was pulled from the right hand lake at the country park.

Evidence was given by Charles Pavey, of Thurleigh who noticed the body at around 10.35am when he visited the park and sat on a bench close to the scene.

The inquest was told how Mrs McGregor had visited her GP on July 12 complaining of depression but that she did not report any suicidal thoughts.

She was prescribed the antidepressant citalopram, therapeutic levels of which were found in her system when she died. The court also heard how she had refused to take part in any further treatment claiming that she would be fine.

No alcohol or illegal drugs had been taken.

During the inquest the coroner expressed his sympathies to her husband and heard evidence from PC Paul Grieve.

PC Grieve attended the scene and was responsible for dealing with the identification of the body and the subsequent investigation.

He said that there was no sign of a disturbance at the scene and he was satisfied that no third party had been involved in Mrs McGregor’s death.

Delivering his verdict Coroner David Morris said: “From the circumstances given to me I have no alternative but to record unfortunately that she took her own life.

“But I would add that she took her own life while suffering from a depressive illness.”